Found in Translation

I read this NYTimes article a while ago and really enjoyed its insight into meaning, creation, the written word, translation and understanding. The author of the article--also the author of The Hours--contends that readers of literature translated into different languages are in fact engaged in a translation of a translation of a translation (yes, 3 "translations" :P). For him, the writer of a novel is only able to achieve on paper a vague resemblance of the story in his mind, while the (literal) translator is faced with the challenge of preserving the meaning and music of the original words in his/her translation but in doing so, invariably transforms the original work further. Finally, the reader, influenced by his/her own expectations and experiences, translates the work into something that has personal meaning--a meaning which may differ significantly from that intended by the translator and the author. Considering how this entire process of creation, intention, perception and negotiation operates within the arts is a refreshing change of scenery from only focusing on how such processes affect domination/subjugation in a political context. Enjoy: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/03/opinion/03cunningham.html